Commission
brings together non-confessional organisations to discuss "Migration,
integration and European values: putting values into action"

Today,
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans hosted a
high-level meeting with ten representatives from philosophical and
non-confessional organisations from across Europe to discuss
"Migration, integration and European values: putting values into
action"

Today,
European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans hosted a
high-level meeting with ten representatives from philosophical and
non-confessional organisations from across Europe. This seventh
annual high-level meeting discussed the topic "Migration,
integration and European values: putting values into action".
The meeting took place within the framework of the ongoing dialogue
with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional
organisations based on Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty.

First
Vice-President Timmermans said: "At
a time when European societies are marked by a sense of crisis, it is
essential to put our values into action. Nowhere is this discussion
more relevant than with regards to migration and integration. Values
cannot be imposed, they must be passed on and embraced across
generations and communities, and we need to find concrete ways to
achieve this. Because of their engagement in their respective
communities, non-confessional organisations are among those who can
provide concrete ideas to move this discussion forward."

The
high-level meeting provided a platform to discuss three main issues:
how to improve integration policies; how to address the rise of
populism and intolerance; and, how to build more cohesive societies.
Today's discussion focused in particular on addressing fears and
increased polarisation in our societies, and the need to move beyond
the crisis mode when it comes to migration and think long-term. The
need for proactively transmitting values and cultural understanding
was underlined, as well as the central role of education. It was
agreed that this is a challenge for society at large and that
concrete ways to convey values in practice must be developed. The
organisations present will continue to work with the Commission to
develop these ideas.

Background

Today’s
high level meeting with representatives of philosophical and
non-confessional organisation is the seventh in the series of
meetings launched by the Commission in 2009 when the dialogue with
churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations
was enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty (Art 17 TFEU). The dialogue is
under the responsibility of First Vice-President Timmermans.

The
Commission will hold its annual meeting with religious leaders on 29
November 2016.

On
7 June 2016, the Commission adopted an Integration
Action Plan for Third-Country Nationalsoutlining
a set of actions ranging from education to non-discrimination and
social inclusion. The Commission puts a particular emphasis on
promoting inclusive education and common EU values as well as
reaching out to young people.

The
Commission has taken a number of steps to implement the Paris
Declaration on promoting citizenship and the common values of
freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education, adopted
on 17 March 2015. The Commission will propose a Council
Recommendation establishing a policy framework on promoting inclusion
and fundamental values through education. In 2016, the Erasmus+
programme is making more than €400 million available to
transnational partnerships to develop innovative policy approaches
andpractices at grassroots level. Under the Europe for Citizens
Programme 2014-2020, the Commission co-finances projects raising
awareness of EU values, notably tolerance, mutual respect, and
promoting civil society engagement. The Rights, Equality and
Citizenship Programme 2014-2020 supports projects focusing on
preventing and combating racist and xenophobic hatred and
intolerance, as well as projects promoting the development of tools
and practices to prevent, monitor and combat online hate speech,
including through the development of positive counter-narratives.